5 Fitness Scams

Scam No. 3: Exercise in a Bottle

What this was: A supplement that "guaranteed" you more fat loss and exercise capability.Why it was doomed to fail: While you can enhance your metabolism with certain supplements, you can never replace physical training when it comes to improving your cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. Proponents of this scam knew that many people were just looking for an easy way to get a fit body. With proper marketing schemes, they sucked in thousands of customers who were too lazy to put in the hard work.Ultimate fate: Many overweight people bought into this scam only to find out that the pills did not work. They realized that taking supplements can only do so much, and that good results do not come that easily.

Scam No. 4: The Sex Workout

What this was: Certain authors claimed that you could lose weight by having sex. Why it was doomed to fail: While sex is highly enjoyable, it does not burn enough calories to lead to any major weight loss results. Ultimate fate: A few people still believe in this principle, but the real reason sex helps some individuals shed pounds may be related to its underlying mechanisms. If people are having more sex, chances are they are eating less because they have less time to raid the fridge. They also release more sexual hormones, which are known to reduce the desire to eat.

Scam No. 5: The 24-Hour Arm Workout

What this was: An arm workout that was designed to make you gain 3/8 of an inch on your arms in 24 hours. You were given a specific diet to follow and a workout to do each hour. Why it was doomed to fail: This scam relied more on inflammation and tissue damage to measure growth than anything else. After performing such a high workload, your muscle fibers become highly damaged and inflamed. Plus, with an increase in carbs in your diet, you take in extra water, which leads to a fuller look. Although the 24-hour arm workout may leave your pipes looking larger than before, the muscles themselves are not getting any bigger. Ultimate fate: Some people have given this workout a try only to realize its results are short-lived. In order for your muscles to grow, they need time to recover. If you want bigger arms, it’s going to take dedication, persistence and time. It will not happen in 24 hours.

don't be a sucker

Next time you are reading about the latest fitness product, make sure to evaluate what the source is and how credible its claims are. If you feel it may be a good idea, give it a try for a short period of time, but if no progress is seen, let it go and replace it with a more traditional method of training.